• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.162-166
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• 2023

Background: Assessment of the radiation doses to which workers are exposed can differ depending on the placement of dosimeters on the body. In addition, it is affected by whether the placement is under or over a shielding apron. This study aimed to evaluate the actual positioning of personal dosimeters on the body, with or without shielding aprons, among radiation workers in Korea. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the survey data, which included demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, occupation, work history, and placement of the personal dosimeter being worn, from a cohort study of Korean radiation workers. We assessed the use of personal dosimeters among workers, stratified by sex, age, working period, starting year of work, and occupation. Results and Discussion: Overall, high compliance (89.1% to 99.0%) with the wearing of dosimeters on the chest was observed regardless of workers' characteristics, such as age, sex, occupation, and work history. However, the placement of dosimeters, either under or over the shielding aprons, was inconsistent. Overall, 40.1% of workers wore dosimeters under their aprons, while the others wore dosimeters over their aprons. This inconsistency indicates that radiation doses are possibly measured differently under the same exposure conditions solely owing to variations in the placement of worn dosimeters. Conclusion: Although a lack of uniformity in dosimeter placement when wearing a shielding apron may not cause serious harm in radiation dose management for workers, the development of detailed guidelines for dosimeter placement may improve the accuracy of dose assessment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.418-426
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• 2021

This study investigates the perception of radiation safety management in radiation generator manufacturing workers and medical institutions. The basic data obtained is further applied to improve active coping ability and safety levels. The knowledge and attitude practice score of radiation was found to be related to gender, age, marital status, occupation, position, current work period, total work period, radiation related work period, the manual available, defense facility maintenance, number of defense equipment, radiation safety education, special health examination, and recognition of radiation terms. In particular, the knowledge score of radiologists was highest among the radiation-related occupations (<0.05). Radiation safety management requires active defense endeavors to prevent radiation exposure, by both workers of radiation manufacturers and medical institutions. Moreover, institutional devices such as compliance with guidelines, periodic education, facility reinforcement, manual preparation, and special health checkups are required for efficient radiation safety management.

• Korean Journal of Rural Living Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 1996

This study was performed to define the effects of Far Infrared Ray Radiation Fabrics as summer garments during outdoor work by human trial. One healthy male subject was volunteered for this study. Experimental garments consisted of three kinds of trousers (Cotton, Cotton/linen blended, Far Infrared Ray Radiation Fabric/wool blended) and basic garments (panty, socks, shirts, and dress shirts). The measurements were rectal temp., skin temp., microclimate inside clothing, heart rate, subjective sensation etc. The results were as follows : 1. Rectal temperature showed the lowest in Far Infrared Ray Radiation Fabrics among 3 garments. 2. Skin temperature (forehead, chest abdomen temp.) and mean skin temperature were lower in Far Infrared Ray Radiation Fabrics than in others, especially during early stage of work. 3. Heart rate showed lower value in Far Infrared Ray Radiation Fabrics than in others but there was no significance among the garments. 4. Humidity inside clothing and total weight loss showed the highest value in Far Infrared Ray Radiation Fabrics.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2013

Recent domestic use of radiations has increased in the number of institutions and companies as well as operating as an investment, a variety of facilities and safety management are becoming increasingly complex. Despite the increase of radiation workers and facilities, the number of RSOs (Radiation Safety Officers) has not increased with a growing domestic radiation industry. The radiation safety management work (radiation workers management, radiation sources management, facilities management etc.) has been managed by insufficient number of the RSOs. These problems could be directly or indirectly related to causes of the radiation accidents. In this paper, we designed the Process Mapping of radiation safety management work for an efficient safety management of the radiation facilities and protection of radiation accidents. To develop the Process Mapping, we analyzed the radiation safety requirements of management issues and the individual procedures. Based on the Process Mapping, the work procedures for an appropriate radiation safety management of each institution can be configured clearly. Through this procedures, the safety risk factors in radiation facilities can be reduced, and the radiation safety management system will be improved. Depending on your needs, the Process Mapping could be modified and could be used for an efficient radiation safety management.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 2017

Concerns about high radiation exposure to the hands of radiation workers who may contact with radioactive contamination on surfaces in a nuclear power plant (NPP) had been raised, and the Korean regulatory body required the extremity dose estimation during contact tasks with radioactive materials. Korean NPPs conducted field tests to identify the incident radiation to the hands of radiation workers who may contact with radioactive contamination during maintenance periods. The results showed that the radiation fields for contact tasks are dominated by high energy photons. It was also found that the radiation doses to the hands of radiation workers in Korean NPPs were much less than the annual dose limits for extremities. This approach can be applicable to measure and estimate the extremity dose to the hands of medical workers who handle the radioactive materials in a hospital.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2003

The primary contributors to the total occupational radiation exposure in operating nuclear power plants are operation and maintenance activities doting refueling outages. The Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400) includes a number of design improvements and plans to utilize advanced maintenance methods and robotics to minimize the annual collective dose. The major radiation exposure reduction features implemented in APR1400 are a permanent refueling pool seal, quick opening transfer tube blind flange, improved hydrogen peroxide injection at shutdown, improved permanent steam generator work platforms, and more effective temporary shielding. The estimated average annual occupational radiation exposure for APR1400 based on the reference plant experience and an engineering judgment is determined to be in the order of 0.4 man-Sv, which is well within the design goal of 1 man-Sv. The basis of this average annual occupational radiation exposure estimation is an eighteen (18) month fuel cycle with maintenance performed to steam generators and reactor coolant pumps during refueling outage. The outage duration is assumed to be 28 days. The outage work is to be performed on a 24 hour per day basis, seven (7) days a week with overlapping twelve (12) hour work shifts. The occupational radiation exposure for APR1400 is also determined by an alternate method which consists of estimating radiation exposures expected for the major activities during the refueling outage. The major outage activities that cause the majority of the total radiation exposure during refueling outage such as fuel handling, reactor coolant pump maintenance, steam generator inspection and maintenance, reactor vessel head area maintenance, decontamination, and ICI & instrumentation maintenance activities are evaluated at a task level. The calculated value using this method is in close agreement with the value of 0.4 man-Sv, that has been determined based on the experience aid engineering judgement. Therefore, with the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) advanced design features incorporated in the design, APR1400 design is to meet its design goal with sufficient margin, that is, more than a factor of two (2), if operated on art eighteen (18) month fuel cycle.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2014

Following the emergency work in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, more attention was paid for the radiation protection of workers working under severe accident condition. The protection procedure for the emergency workers, including the on-site emergency center, the seismic isolated building and the reestablishment of the radiation protection framework were analyzed to investigate drawbacks and deficiencies which led to adverse effects on the emergency planning and on emergency workers' health and comfort. Those drawbacks were identified and studied, and then suggestions were made to enhance the emergency working condition to avoid any future problems during severe accident emergency work and management.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.97-124
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• 2021

In medical institutions, there are radiation-related workers such as radiological technologists, physicians, dentists, and dental hygienists who handle diagnostic radiation generators. Also, there are work assistants, such as nurses and assistant nurses, who assist in radiation treatment or transfer patients to the radiation examination room. Radiation exposure management for radiation-related workers is carried out under the 「Medical Service Act」, but there is no legal basis for work assistants, etc. And the management of radiation exposure for diagnosis is regulated by the 「Medical Service Act」, and the management of radiation exposure by therapeutic radiation and nuclear medical examination is governed by the 「Nuclear Safety Act」. Thus, to improve the management of radiation exposure for diagnosis, the regulations on radiation exposure management for diagnosis under the 「Medical Service Act」 were compared and reviewed with those of the 「Nuclear Safety Act」. As a result, the main contents are as follows. First, it is necessary to legislate to include nurses, assistant nurses, and clinical practice students who are likely to be exposed to radiation besides radiationrelated workers as subjects of radiation exposure management for diagnosis. Second, when a radiation-related worker for diagnosis is confirmed to be pregnant, the exposure dose limit should be defined. Third, it is necessary to revise the regulations on the types of personal exposure dosimeters in the 「Rules on the Safety Management of Radiation Generators for Diagnostics」. Fourth, it seems that health examination items for radiation-related workers, radiation workers, and frequent visitors should be the same. Fifth, It is necessary to unify and regulate diagnostic radiation and all medical radiation, including therapeutic radiation and nuclear medicine, in one legal system.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2015

Research and investigation is required for the exposure dose of radiation workers to work in the dental hospital as increasing interest in exposure dose of the dental hospital recently accordingly, study aim to minimize radiation exposure by making a follow-up study of individual exposure doses of radiation workers, analyzing the status on individual radiation exposure management, prediction the radiation disability risk levels by radiation, and alerting the workers to the danger of radiation exposure. Especially given the changes in the dental hospital radiation safety awareness conducted the study in order to minimize radiation exposure. This study performed analyses by a comparison between general and dental hospital, comparing each occupation, with the 116,220 exposure dose data by quarter and year of 5,811 subjects at general and dental hospital across South Korea from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012. The following are the results obtained by analyzing average values year and quarter. In term of hospital, average doses were significantly higer in general hospitals than detal ones. In terms of job, average doses were higher in radiological technologists the other workes. Especially, they showed statistically significant differences between radiological technologists than dentists. The above-mentioned results indicate that radiation workers were exposed to radiation for the past 5 years to the extent not exceeding the dose limit (maximum $50mSv\;y^{-1}$). The limitation of this study is that radiation workers before 2008 were excluded from the study. Objective evaluation standards did not apply to the work circumstance or condition of each hospital. Therefore, it is deemed necessary to work out analysis criteria that will be used as objective evaluation standard. It will be necessary to study radiation exposure in more precise ways on the basis of objective analysis standard in the furture. Should try to minimize the radiation individual dose of radiation workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

Objectives: To investigate safety and health management, conditions in factories or facilities handling radiation-generating devices and radioactive isotopes were reviewed in terms of regulations of radiation safety control in Korea. Radiation exposure levels generated at those facilities were directly measured and evaluated for establishing an effective safety and health management plan. Methods: Government organizations with laws and systems of radiation safety and health were investigated and compared. There are three laws governing radiation-related employment such as occupational safety and health acts, nuclear safety acts, and medical service acts. We inspected 12 workplaces as research objects:four workplaces that manufacture and assemble semiconductor devices, three non-destructive inspection workplaces that perform inspections on radiation penetration, and five workplaces in textile and tire manufacturing. Monitoring of radiation exposure was performed through two methods. Spatial and surface monitoring using real-time radiation instruments was performed on each site handling radiation generating devices and radioactive isotopes in order to identify radiation leakage. Results: According to the occupational safety and health act, there is no legal obligation to measure ionizing radiation and set dose limits. This can cause confusion in the application of the laws, because the scopes and contents are different from each other. Surface dose rates in radiation generating devices such as implanters, thickness gages and accelerators, which were registered according to nuclear safety acts, using surveymeters, and seven of 36 facilities(19.4%) exceeded the international standards for surface radiation dose of $10{\mu}Sv/hr$. Conclusions: The results showed that occupational health and safety acts require a separate provision for measuring and assessing the radiation exposure of workers performing radiation work. Like noise, ionizing radiation will also periodically be controlled by including it in the object factors of work-environment measurement.